Upriver from Quebec to Montreal

Our last day in Quebec was fun- we started with a tour on a double-deck London style bus- with a funny and informative guide.  And we visited the Citadel and ended the day with a very romantic dinner at the lower town along the waterfront, looking up at the brightly lit Chateau Frontenac.  Out table was just in front of the piano player and singer, who provided soft music in english.  And the restaurant served barbecue ribs and pulled pork sandwiches-  what another great 40th anniversary dinner.

Our last car voyage was upstream along the St. Lawrence River from Quebec to Montreal, passing over several large tributaries and through gently rolling forested hills and vast farmlands, green and growing; until we approached Montreal and the fields turned into factories, warehouses and urban landscapes, with as many roads and twisting over-crossings as Los Angeles.  We took a practice drive to the airport, an old habit of Judy's dad, and there were several confusing choices between roads and exits.  Our flight is at 8:30 AM, and we don't want any big surprises early in the morning. Montreal has many tall modern buildings- it looks like they have been steadily building since I visited the 1967 World's Fair with my two high school buddies, Craig and Bob.  That was a big adventure for us (I was just 15)- flying to New York with a bus to Montreal; camping in a little tent with rain, and visiting the international exhibits and pavilions.  

We took another double-deck bus tour of Montreal when we arrived at 3 PM and found a sandwich at subway.  I wasn't expecting such a large city- so letting the bus take us through the streets and up onto Mont-Royal Park- which also holds more than 1 million bodies (similar to the catacombs of Paris only above the City).  We learned that Montreal requires new buildings to spend 1% of the budget on art- so there are some very artistic features to the already impressive architecture.  Walking in the lobby of this building is like being in a rainbow.  And a few older buildings have been preserved.

We found our hotel along Sherbrooke Street near McGill University, and then took the practice airport drive, but when we went to the Old Port and old town looking for dinner, it seemed so dark on the streets, and maybe too late, so we decided to try and find something back near our hotel.  But we ended up at another Tim Hortons (donuts and sandwiches)- which we have enjoyed for several breakfasts, but not for a late night dinner.  We were thankful they were still open.  We were glad to tuck ourselves into bed.